Is captain Tavernier nearing the end at Rangers?

Could James Tavernier's nine-year stint astatine Rangers beryllium coming to an end? It is simply a mobility that remains unrecorded moreover aft nan Scottish transportation model has closed.

Now 32, nan nine skipper and right-back is astatine somewhat of a crossroads amid speculation linking him pinch Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, wherever nan transportation model remains unfastened for now.

On nan past time of March, Tavernier scored against Hibernian to go British football's highest scoring defender pinch 131 goals.

The Ibrox broadside were besides going for nan Scottish Premiership title and maintained an liking successful nan Scottish Cup, having won nan League Cup earlier successful nan season.

The Englishman would adhd 2 much goals to his tally but neither were successful victories arsenic Rangers' title and cup situation ended fruitless, pinch Celtic again winning both.

As play 2024-25 gets into afloat swing, Tavernier is 1 of nan past men opinionated from Steven Gerrard's title-winning squad of 2020-21.

Leon Balogun and Ianis Hagi are besides still astatine nan nine but nan second has been exiled, while Balogun is playing much of a supporting role.

And, arsenic captain, disapproval has travel much successful Tavernier's guidance than elsewhere arsenic Rangers person stuttered early successful nan season.

A Champions League qualifying exit dented nan club's gross hopes and a 3-0 conclusion astatine Celtic Park successful their past outing near them 5 points down some nan reigning champions and Aberdeen aft 4 games.

The vexation of 1 protagonist boiled complete into verbal confrontation extracurricular Ibrox successful nan aftermath of that derby nonaccomplishment and soon reports surfaced astir Tavernier being connected nan radar of Turkish clubs.

Beskitas is 1 evident destination, pinch erstwhile Rangers leader Giovanni van Bronckhorst successful complaint of nan Istanbul club.

Some of nan champion shot of Tavernier's profession came nether nan Dutch head arsenic Rangers reached nan 2022 Europa League final, pinch nan full-back's goals peculiarly important.

And past there's Gerrard astatine Al-Ettifaq, pinch Saudi Arabia's model besides still open. Tavernier has been mentioned successful relationship pinch nan broadside successful Dammam.

Another magnitude to his imaginable waste is Clement's stance that Rangers should not beryllium losing truthful galore players astatine nan extremity of their contracts.

Kent and Morelos near successful those circumstances and Borna Barisic, Ryan Jack and John Lundstram did likewise astatine nan extremity of past season.

Tavernier is contracted until 2026, erstwhile he will beryllium 34. If he is not to work together caller terms, it would make consciousness for Rangers to waste him either now aliases complete nan adjacent 3 windows.

But tin Rangers spend to suffer him? And who takes complete arsenic captain?

Positionally, Dujon Sterling is an evident replacement astatine right-back. Experience-wise, goalkeeper Jack Butland is campaigner for nan captaincy.

But it is successful nan goals scored file that Rangers would astir miss Tavernier.

As rule punishment taker and a free-kick specialist, he has regularly been successful double figures of goals during his 9 years astatine nan club.

Other players tin return penalties - existent apical scorer Cyriel Dessers scored 1 past play - but Rangers do not person an evident free-kick taker.

His 133 goals are awesome for immoderate defender. Of those, 110 person been while Rangers person been successful nan Premiership and he has averaged almost 20 a play successful nan past 4 campaigns.

Tavernier is besides proficient erstwhile it comes to assists - contributing 2 successful nan convention already this word and 8 past year.

However, Sportsound pundit Rory Loy believes nan narration is nearing its end.

"I conscionable don't deliberation it's a patient situation," he erstwhile Ibrox younker said of nan confrontation pinch a fan.

"It conscionable feels for illustration it's travel to a earthy conclusion. If Rangers were to clasp connected to him, they're risking that toxic power persisting.

"I don't deliberation he's been peculiarly accordant this play and that's a worry. I don't deliberation his assemblage connection looks nan aforesaid arsenic it has done successful erstwhile years. He conscionable strikes you arsenic a different character.

"He's not been contributing goals this play truthful far. He doesn't look happy. Sometimes, you conscionable request to judge that possibly it is time.

"In this time and age, he's continuing to beryllium linked away. For me, that's coming from his camp, his agent, whoever it whitethorn beryllium trying to drum up interest.

"Everything strikes to maine that he would for illustration to move on."